System, method and apparatus for collecting and utilizing big data for online gameplay

ABSTRACT

A system, method and apparatus for capturing data from a plurality of users for providing online gameplay based on captured user sensor data. User sensor data is captured from a plurality of sensor capture devices relative to an associated user so as to be transmitted to a gameplay server. The gameplay server executes instructions to generate a user interface on a user&#39;s client computing device for providing gameplay on each user client portable computing device utilizing, and pertinent to, the captured sensor data.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/942,036 filed Nov. 16, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/079,656 filed Nov. 14, 2014 which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electronic commerce and, moreparticularly, to a system and method for utilizing captured big data foronline gameplay.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic online games have become a growing part of the entertainmentindustry. More recently, such games have been provided for wirelesscommunication devices, especially for mobile phones. Mobile phone gamesare available at varying levels of complexity depending upon, inparticular, the bandwidth available and processing capabilities of themobile phone itself. Such games permit a user to interact with a virtualenvironment. The virtual environment generally is maintained andoperated by a remote device, typically a server. The user interacts withthe virtual world through his/her mobile phone, which also provides theuser with a window into the virtual environment, by text message,images, sounds or any combination thereof. Multiple users may interactwith the virtual world, the activity of one user affecting the virtualenvironment for others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose and advantages of the below described illustratedembodiments will be set forth in and apparent from the description thatfollows. Additional advantages of the illustrated embodiments will berealized and attained by the devices, systems and methods particularlypointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well asfrom the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the illustrated embodiments, in one aspect, a system, method andapparatus for capturing data from a plurality of users for providingonline gameplay based on captured user sensor data is described in whichuser sensor data is captured from a plurality of sensor capture devicesrelative to an associated user so as to be transmitted to a gameplayserver. The gameplay server executes instructions to generate a userinterface on a user's client computing device for providing gameplay oneach user client portable computing device utilizing, and pertinent to,the captured sensor data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate variousnon-limiting, example, inventive aspects in accordance with the presentdisclosure:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication network;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example network device/node; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a system level diagram of an illustrated embodimentutilizing the networks of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The illustrated embodiments are now described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identifysimilar structural/functional features. The illustrated embodiments arenot limited in any way to what is illustrated as the illustratedembodiments described below are merely exemplary, which can be embodiedin various forms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore,it is to be understood that any structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representation for teaching one skilled inthe art to variously employ the discussed embodiments. Furthermore, theterms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but ratherto provide an understandable description of the illustrated embodiments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also beused in the practice or testing of the illustrated embodiments,exemplary methods and materials are now described.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “astimulus” includes a plurality of such stimuli and reference to “thesignal” includes reference to one or more signals and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

It is to be appreciated the illustrated embodiments discussed below arepreferably a software algorithm, program or code residing on computeruseable medium having control logic for enabling execution on a machinehaving a computer processor. The machine typically includes memorystorage configured to provide output from execution of the computeralgorithm or program.

As used herein, the term “software” is meant to be synonymous with anycode or program that can be in a processor of a host computer,regardless of whether the implementation is in hardware, firmware or asa software computer product available on a disc, a memory storagedevice, or for download from a remote machine. The embodiments describedherein include such software to implement the equations, relationshipsand algorithms described above. One skilled in the art will appreciatefurther features and advantages of the illustrated embodiments based onthe above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the illustratedembodiments are not to be limited by what has been particularly shownand described, except as indicated by the appended claims.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1depicts an exemplary communications network 100 in which belowillustrated embodiments may be implemented.

It is to be understood a communication network 100 is a geographicallydistributed collection of nodes interconnected by communication linksand segments for transporting data between end nodes, such as personalcomputers, work stations, smart phone devices, tablets, televisions,sensors and or other devices such as automobiles, etc. Many types ofnetworks are available, with the types ranging from local area networks(LANs) to wide area networks (WANs). LANs typically connect the nodesover dedicated private communications links located in the same generalphysical location, such as a building or campus. WANs, on the otherhand, typically connect geographically dispersed nodes overlong-distance communications links, such as common carrier telephonelines, optical lightpaths, synchronous optical networks (SONET),synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) links, or Powerline Communications(PLC), and others.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example communication network100 illustratively comprising nodes/devices 101-108 (e.g., sensors 102,client computing devices 103, device 104, smart phone devices 105, webservers 106, routers 107, switches 108, and the like) interconnected byvarious methods of communication. For instance, the links 109 may bewired links or may comprise a wireless communication medium, wherecertain nodes are in communication with other nodes, e.g., based ondistance, signal strength, current operational status, location, etc.Moreover, each of the devices can communicate data packets (or frames)142 with other devices using predefined network communication protocolsas will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, such as variouswired protocols and wireless protocols etc., where appropriate. In thiscontext, a protocol consists of a set of rules defining how the nodesinteract with each other. Those skilled in the art will understand thatany number of nodes, devices, links, etc. may be used in the computernetwork, and that the view shown herein is for simplicity. Also, whilethe embodiments are shown herein with reference to a general networkcloud, the description herein is not so limited, and may be applied tonetworks that are hardwired.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an example network computingdevice 200 (e.g., client computing device 103, server 106, etc.) thatmay be used (or components thereof) with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein, e.g., as one of the nodes shown in the network 100. Asexplained above, in different embodiments these various devices areconfigured to communicate with each other in any suitable way, such as,for example, via communication network 100.

Device 200 is intended to represent any type of computer system capableof carrying out the teachings of various embodiments of the presentinvention. Device 200 is only one example of a suitable system and isnot intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of embodiments of the invention described herein.Regardless, computing device 200 is capable of being implemented and/orperforming any of the functionality set forth herein.

Computing device 200 is operational with numerous other general purposeor special purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with computing device 200include, but are not limited to, personal computer systems, servercomputer systems, thin clients, thick clients, hand-held or laptopdevices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set topboxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputersystems, and distributed data processing environments that include anyof the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computing device 200 may be described in the general context of computersystem-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executedby a computer system. Generally, program modules may include routines,programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and so on thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.Computing device 200 may be practiced in distributed data processingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network. In a distributed dataprocessing environment, program modules may be located in both local andremote computer system storage media including memory storage devices.

Device 200 is shown in FIG. 2 in the form of a general-purpose computingdevice. The components of device 200 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 216, a system memory 228,and a bus 218 that couples various system components including systemmemory 228 to processor 216.

Bus 218 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

Computing device 200 typically includes a variety of computer systemreadable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessibleby device 200, and it includes both volatile and non-volatile media,removable and non-removable media.

System memory 228 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 230 and/or cachememory 232. Computing device 200 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 234 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic mediaand/or Solid State Drives (SSD) (not shown and typically called a “harddrive”). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from andwriting to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppydisk”), and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to aremovable, non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or otheroptical media can be provided. In such instances, each can be connectedto bus 218 by one or more data media interfaces. As will be furtherdepicted and described below, memory 228 may include at least oneprogram product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modulesthat are configured to carry out the functions of embodiments of theinvention.

Program/utility 240, having a set (at least one) of program modules 215,such as underwriting module, may be stored in memory 228 by way ofexample, and not limitation, as well as an operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, and program data. Each ofthe operating system, one or more application programs, other programmodules, and program data or some combination thereof, may include animplementation of a networking environment. Program modules 215generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies of embodiments ofthe invention as described herein.

Device 200 may also communicate with one or more external devices 214such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 224, etc.; one or moredevices that enable a user to interact with computing device 200; and/orany devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computingdevice 200 to communicate with one or more other computing devices. Suchcommunication can occur via Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 222. Stillyet, device 200 can communicate with one or more networks such as alocal area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or apublic network (e.g., the Internet) via network adapter 220. Asdepicted, network adapter 220 communicates with the other components ofcomputing device 200 via bus 218. It should be understood that althoughnot shown, other hardware and/or software components could be used inconjunction with device 200. Examples, include, but are not limited to:microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external diskdrive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storagesystems, etc.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are intended to provide a brief, general description of anillustrative and/or suitable exemplary environment in which embodimentsof the below described present invention may be implemented. FIGS. 1 and2 are exemplary of a suitable environment and are not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the structure, scope of use, orfunctionality of an embodiment of the present invention. A particularenvironment should not be interpreted as having any dependency orrequirement relating to any one or combination of components illustratedin an exemplary operating environment. For example, in certaininstances, one or more elements of an environment may be deemed notnecessary and omitted. In other instances, one or more other elementsmay be deemed necessary and added.

With the exemplary communication network 100 (FIG. 1) and computingdevice 200 (FIG. 2) being generally shown and discussed above,description of certain illustrated embodiments of the present inventionwill now be provided. With reference now to FIG. 3, shown is ageneralized system 300 having a gameplay server 106 for acquiring realworld data from sensor capture devices 102 associated with a pluralityof users for creating online (internet) gameplay. Examples of gameplayscenarios are discussed below, which includes (and is not limited to)gameplay based upon user diet consumption; user energyconsumption/efficiency; user health and user vehicle driving premisedupon telematics data.

The sensor devices 102 used to collect the “big data” for the aforesaidgameplay may consist of any known device that is capable of collectingthe required data and transmitting the captured data to the gameplayserver 106 (e.g., a smart phone device, such an as iPhone™) or a device(e.g., a smart watch or other body wearable sensor device) capable ofcapturing required data for a gameplay (e.g., a user's heartrate) andsending the captured data to an intermediate device (e.g., a smartphone)for subsequent transmission to the gameplay server 106, preferably via anetwork 100. Illustrative examples of such sensor devices 106 include(and are not limited to): smart phone and tablet devices; wearablecomputing devices (e.g., smart watches; body sensors, clothing sensors;cameras and other suitable computing devices); energy measuring devices(e.g., electricity, water, gas, oil, etc.); telematics devices (e.g.,OBD type II devices), GPS receiver and other suitable computing devicescapable of acquiring suitable data relating to a user. Also shown inFIG. 3, are user computing devices 107 which communicate with thegameplay server 106 (preferably via network 100) to facilitate thegameplay to the user. Examples of such devices include (and are notlimited to) smart phone and tablet devices; desktop and laptop computerdevices and any other suitable computing device capable of enabling thegenerated gameplay of server 106. It is to be appreciated that whileFIG. 2 illustrates only first and second captures devices 102 and usercomputing devices 107, this is done for ease of illustration purposesonly, as the present illustrated embodiment is intended for a pluralityof users requiring a plurality of sensor capture devices 102 and usercomputing devices 107, and is thus not limited be restricted to what isshown in FIG. 3.

The gameplay server 106 is configured and operational to executeinstructions to generate, or interact with, a user interface on a remoteuser's client computing device 107 for providing gameplay on each userclient portable computing device utilizing the captured data from theuser sensor capture devices 102. Examples of such gameplay scenariosinclude (and are not limited to): user dietary user consumption whereingameplay relates to comparing the diet of a first user with at least asecond user. For instance, gameplay could include who consumes closestto targeted daily calorie consumption and/or who consumes a diet withthe least sodium and/or saturated fat content. Another such gameplayscenario may include user energy consumption wherein gameplay relates tocomparing the energy consumption of a first user with energy consumptionof at least a second user. For instance, gameplay could includecomparing periodic energy consumption of a dwelling associated with afirst user with periodic energy consumption of a dwelling associatedwith at least a second user. Examples of such energy consumption mayinclude one or more of: electrical power consumption, water consumption,gas consumption and oil consumption, and the like. Yet another suchgameplay scenario may include user health data wherein gameplay relatesto comparing the health data of a first user with the health data of atleast a second user. For instance, gameplay could include comparinghuman body vital signs associated with a first user with human bodyvital signs associated with at least a second user. Examples of suchhuman body vital signs include body temperature; blood pressure; heartrate and breathing rate, and the like.

Yet still another such gameplay scenario may include user telematicsdata wherein gameplay relates to comparing the telematics data of afirst user with the telematics data of at least a second user. Forinstance, gameplay includes comparing telematics data associated with afirst user with telematics data associated with at least a second userinvolving one or more of vehicle acceleration; vehicle braking anddriving time to determine who is the safest driver and/or who is themost efficient driver. Captured telematics data may further includevehicle speed obtained from the VSS (vehicle speed sensor). Telematicsgameplay may further includes comparing the phone usage (which mayinclude overall time spent using a phone, or time spent using one ormore predetermined applications) of a one driver against another driverwhile each driver is operating a vehicle.

Still further, another gameplay scenario may include the user comparingtheir game play data against themselves over time, enabling the user torack their progress and compete against themselves.

With certain illustrated embodiments described above, it is to beappreciated that various non-limiting embodiments described herein maybe used separately, combined or selectively combined for specificapplications. Further, some of the various features of the abovenon-limiting embodiments may be used without the corresponding use ofother described features. The foregoing description should therefore beconsidered as merely illustrative of the principles, teachings andexemplary embodiments of this invention, and not in limitation thereof.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application of the principles of the illustratedembodiments. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may bedevised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope ofthe illustrated embodiments, and the appended claims are intended tocover such modifications and arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing online gaming with dataassociated with a plurality of vehicles, comprising: a gameplay serverincluding: a memory configured to store instructions; and a processoroperable to execute the stored instructions, the gameplay serverconfigured to couple with: a plurality of OBD dongle devices forcapturing vehicle telematics data wherein each OBD dongle device iscoupled with a respective vehicle for capturing telematics datatherefrom; a plurality of user computer devices wherein each usercomputer device is configured to interact with an OBD dongle device toreceive the captured vehicle telematics data and further beingconfigured to send via a network to the gameplay server: 1) the capturedtelematics data; and 2) usage time of the user device determined whilethe vehicle is in operation; wherein the processor includes instructionsfor providing gameplay on each user computer device, wherein thegameplay includes determining a driving score value for each usercomputer device utilizing the captured vehicle telematics data and thedetermined user device usage time associated with a vehicle such thatthe determined driving score value for each user computer device iscompared against each other regarding gameplay.
 2. The system as recitedin claim 1, wherein each OBD dongle device is an OBD type II dongledevice.
 3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein each user computerdevice comprises a smartphone device.
 4. The system as recited in claim3, wherein each smartphone device wirelessly couples to a respective OBDtype II dongle device.
 5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein thenetwork is a cellular telecommunications network.
 6. A system forproviding online gaming with data associated with a plurality ofvehicles, comprising: a gameplay server including: a memory configuredto store instructions; and a processor operable to execute the storedinstructions, the gameplay server configured to couple with: a pluralityof OBD dongle devices for capturing vehicle telematics data wherein eachOBD dongle device is coupled with a respective vehicle for capturingtelematics data therefrom; a plurality of user computer devices whereineach user computer device is configured to interact with an OBD dongledevice to receive the captured vehicle telematics data and further beingconfigured to send via a network to the gameplay server the capturedtelematics data; wherein the processor includes instructions forproviding gameplay on each user computer device, wherein the gameplayincludes: determining a driving score value associated with each saiduser computer device utilizing the captured vehicle telematics dataassociated with each said vehicle and determined usage time of a userdevice determined while the vehicle is in operation such that thedetermined driving score value for each user computer device is comparedagainst each other regarding gameplay.
 7. The system as recited in claim6, wherein each of the plurality of user computer devices is furtherconfigured to send via the network to the gameplay server usage time ofthe user computer device determined while a vehicle associated with theuser computer device is in operation and wherein the processor furtherincludes instructions for providing gameplay on each user computerdevice utilizing the determined user device usage time.
 8. The system asrecited in claim 6, wherein each OBD dongle device is an OBD type IIdongle device.
 9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein each usercomputer device comprises a smartphone device.
 10. The system as recitedin claim 9, wherein each smartphone device wirelessly couples to arespective OBD type II dongle device.
 11. The system as recited in claim10, wherein the network is a cellular telecommunications network.